Roseate Spoonbills make the most common photograph so much better.
Taken at Ding Darling wildlife preserve, Florida.
A Pink Flight, Spoonbill
Category Archives: Spoonbill
A Marsh Scene, Several Things Happening
It’s always a pleasant surprise when you discover the scene you photographed has all kinds of things going on.
The initial idea was to shoot the big Alligator on this small hammock. However as I began to get the shot, a few Spoonbills made their way in.
While they moved around the big Alligator I half expected them to suddenly fly off. They didn’t but I took a few more shots anyway.
But now, after I processed the image, a third scene was playing out.
Another set of eyes watching me on the edge of the marsh.
If you don’t see them click the image above and look at the large Alligators back, something peeking over the top.
Sharing
A quick shot taken in a wildlife management area.
A single dead tree with several Snowy Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, and a Double-crested Cormorant.
Not a single disagreement either.
Mixing Colors, Snowy And Spoonbill
When out I rarely use a monopod, almost never a tripod. Once I carried a pack every where, I try to carry the least amount of ‘stuff’ I need now. However, a windy day or when I might be shooting extra long a monopod comes in handy. I had one this day.
This was not a particularly long shot, but I caught the right moments because I was prefocused and didn’t have to hold up heavy gear.
A slight adjustment with the focus button and I captured a landing Egret not planned for at all.
So…I shot at 10 frames a second, was prefocused and balanced on a monopod, and had a quality long lens. Sorry purists, gear does matter.
Spoonbill Making Trouble
I have written before how the Spoonbill love to climb around on branches. The can’t help themselves and always want the highest spot.
Well sorry, it was occupied by a Cormorant.
Roseate Spoonbills may bite each other a little, but in general they don’t fight much. Cormorants, they do.
The Cormorant hissed right back at the Spoonbill in a clear warning.
Once he warned the pink bird he went about his business of scratching. The Spoonbill did not impress him at all.
Eventually the ‘tough guy’ climbed around in the other direction.
Roseate Spoonbill Joining The Bowl (Group)
The Spoonbill around Tarpon Bay seemed to travel alone, not in a group as they do in the Lowcountry.
Once I noticed this it was easier to watch a few come in and pick a good spot hoping for more to follow. And they did.
A group of Spoonbill is called a ‘bowl’, not a flock. Clever.
Below is a second bird that came in a short time later. I took a different angle, the sun had changed, but the landing path was the same.
Note; the same plan on a following day did not work at all. They came in from all different directions.
Arriving Spoonbill
The opportunity we always hope to get, and rarely do.
However, I do admit to a little setup here. I had watched several Spoonbills approach patterns before these.
It ended with a nice soft finish.
Better yet, none of the others took offense to him landing in the middle.
A Little Too Peaceful
There are just too many different types of birds for this scene to stay calm for very long.
I was right…
